Toilet fitting

ABSTRACT

A toilet fitting comprising a hollow seat adapted to be mounted on a toilet bowl and containing suction orifices through which air is drawn off into a suction chamber and thence to atmosphere or to an outlet pipe by an air extractor. To simplify servicing and to reduce noise the air extractor comprising a fan, an electric motor and the necessary switchgear is mounted in a replaceable cartridgelike device which is housed in a hollow extension of the seat.

United States Patent Hans Maisch Roteniels. Germany Sept. 18, 1969 Aug. 17. 1971 Eisenwerke Gaggenau GmbH Gaggenau, Germany Feb. 25, 1969 Germany lnventor A pplv No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority TOILET FITTING 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 4/213, 4/217 Int. Cl [503d 9/05, A47k 13/00 Field oISearch 4/2l3,2l7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1931 Cole 1/1938 Norris 2,119,529 6/1938 Dick 4/217 2,164,320 7/1939 Groeniger 4/70 2,726,405 12/1955 Smithetal 4/213 3,120,006 2/1964 Knappe.. 4/213 3,230,551 1/1966 Kopp 4/213 3,386,109 6/1968 Christianetal... 4/213 3,501,784 3/1970 Maisch 4 217 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,347,873 11/1963 France 4/213 445,105 2/1949 ltaly 4/127 573,359 2/1958 Italy 4 217 Primary E.mminer-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner-Donald B. Massenberg Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind and Ponack ABSTRACT: A toilet fitting comprising a hollow seat adapted to be mounted on a toilet bowl and containing suction orifices through which air is drawn off into a suction chamber and thence to atmosphere or to an outlet pipe by an air extractor. To simplify servicing and to reduce noise the air extractor comprising a fan, an electric motor and the necessary switchgear is mounted in a replaceable cartridgelike device which is housed in a hollow extension of the seat.

PATENTEDAUGI 1m:

HANS MIUSCH Attorneys TOILET FITTING The invention relates to a toilet fitting comprising a hollow seat element adapted to be mounted on the edge of a toilet bowl, which element contains suction orifices which through the interior of the seat element communicate with a suction chamber from which air is drawn off by an air extractor accommodated in a hollow extension of the seat element, the extracted air being delivered to atmosphere or to an outlet pipe.

Toilet seats of this kind have proved efficient in practice; difficulties arise however if parts of the air-extractor, i.e. the fan, the electric motor or the switching elements have to be replaced as a result of their being damaged. Also, in some instances, the noise from the extractor is troublesome.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved toilet fitting in which the air extractor, together with the associated parts, can be readily replaced in the event of their being damaged, and which also enables noise to be reduced in an effective manner.

According to the present invention, the air extractor together with the associated parts is accommodated in a cartridgelike replaceable device which can be inserted endwise into the hollow extension, the device being provided with a projecting switch actuating element. In this way there is provided a replaceable device which can be readily changed at any time as a whole. This provides the advantage that the toilet seat can still be used, without ventilation, when replacement of the device becomes necessary. Since the air extractor is not rigidly connected with the toilet seat, noise can be reduced in a particularly effective manner, preferably by means of a resilient, noise-reducing mounting of the cartridgelike device in the hollow extension. The hollow extension is expediently swingable with the toilet seat, the mounting beingachieved by means of a bowed hinge firmly connected to the toilet bowl.

' In a preferred form of construction, the cartridgelike device comprises a first and second tubular part of equal external diameter joined by an intermediate part which is of lesser ex ternal diameter and is formed with suction orifices in its wall, the first tubular part accommodating a fan and an electric motor and communicating with the interior of the intermediate part through a bore shaped in the manner of a nozzle, and the second tubular part accommodatingswitch elements for controlling the motor. This tubular cartridge can be inserted in the, various retaining means without the need for its being aligned in any particular position, and provides a very good suction action in the constructed intermediate portion which communicates with a suction chamber contained in the hollow extension. The filter element, which is expediently likewise designed to be replaceable, can be combined with the cartridgelike device or can be fitted separately from this device in a holding means associated with the hollow extension.

In order to achieve reduction in the transmission of noise beyond that already achieved by the resilient, noise-reducing mounting of the cartridgelike device in the hollow extension, it may possibly be expedient to provide the surface of the inner wall of the device, at least near the fan, with a noise-inhibiting coating. This can preferably be constituted by a smooth, relatively solid top layer and, below that, a porous, resilient under-layer, or, in simple cases, the coating can be a rubbery lacquer.

It would also appear to be advantageous for the upper surface of the toilet seat to be raised and to be of circular cross section where it is contiguous with the outside diameter of the hollow extension. This results in a sitting surface suiting anatomical requirements and a smooth transition towards the hollow extension; which facilitates cleaning since no edges and corners are present.

The cartridgelike device can be made of metal or plastics material. The fan and electric drive motor are likewise preferably mounted in a resilient manner so that the transmission of sound vibrations is reduced at this point. The out- .wardly projecting part for actuating the switch expediently takes the form of a button having a pressure surface of adequate size.

The use of the above-described features results in a ventilated toilet seat, the air extractor of which, including the associated switch elements, can be readily replaced, and in which moreover effective inhibition of noise and a configuration suited to anatomical requirements can be achieved. The toilet seat is of good overall appearance and can be easily cleaned since it has no comers in which dirt can collect.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the toilet seat of the invention,

FIG; 2 is a plan view ofthe toilet seat seen in FIG. 1 ,and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a cartridgelike insertable part.

Referring to the-drawing, a hollow toilet seat 2 is shown mounted on a toilet bowl 1. A hollow attachment or extension 3 may be connected to or, if required, made integral with the seat 2 and both parts are mounted to be swung together on a pivot secured on the toilet bowl 1. A cover 4 is also mounted to be swung about the same pivot.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the hollow attachment 3 accommodates a resilient, noisereducing and inhibiting annular mounting 5. Air is drawn through orifices 6 on the underside of the seat 2 and through a suction chamber 9 by a fan driven by an electric motor 8 and is exhausted through a filter element 10 which is likewise replaceable and is inserted in the hollow attachment 3.

The cartridgelike insertable part consists of a first tubular portion 11 in which the fan 7 and the electric motor 8 are accommodated. Connected by way of a suction bore 12, reduced in the manner of a nozzle, is an intermediate portion 13 of smaller diameter which contains suction orifices 14 on its circumference. There then follows a second tubular portion 15, the diameter of which corresponds to that of the first tubular portion 11 and in which are accommodated electric switching elements 16, a projecting actuating member 17 being provided. The inner surface of the wall of the first tubu lar portion 11 is provided with a noise-inhibiting coating 18. Within the first tubular portion 11, the fan 7 is mounted, by way of the electric motor 8, on a retaining means, not shown in the drawing, which is disposed concentrically with the longitudinal axis of the tubular portion.

As already mentioned, the hollow attachment 3 and the toilet seat 2 are solidly connected and, together with the cover 4, can be swung about a common pivotal point fixed by a bowed hinge 19. The bowed hinge 19 is firmly connected to the toilet bowl 1 at the rear edge portion thereof.

lclaim:

1. A toilet fitting comprising a toilet bowl, a hollow seat containing inlet orifices open to the interior of said bowl, a hollow extension of said seat mounted on the rim of said bowl at the hinge mounting rear portion thereof and communicating with said inlet orifices, said fitting having mounted in said hollow extension and contained in a cartridgelike replaceable unit a suction chamber, suction orifices, an air extractor, an electric motor for driving said extractor, and a projecting switch actuating element.

2. A toilet fitting according to claim I, wherein said cartridgelike replaceable unit comprises a first and a second tubular part of equal external diameters joined by an intermediate part which is of lesser external diameter and is formed with said suction orifices in its wall, said first tubular part accommodating said air extractor and said motor and commu nicating with the interior of said intermediate part through a nozzle-shaped bore, and said second tubular part accommodating said switch element for controlling said motor.

3. A toilet fitting according to claim 1, wherein said cartridgelike replaceable unit is supported in said hollow extension in a resilient, noise-inhibiting mounting.

low extension the upper surface of said fitting is shaped, in a vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of said seat, to form a part of substantially circular cross section. 

1. A toilet fitting comprising a toilet bowl, a hollow seat containing inlet orifices open to the interior of said bowl, a hollow extension of said seat mounted on the rim of said bowl at the hinge mounting rear portion thereof and communicating with said inlet orifices, said fitting having mounted in said hollow extension and contained in a cartridgelike replaceable unit a suction chamber, suction orifices, an air extractor, an electric motor for driving said extractor, and a projecting switch actuating element.
 2. A toilet fitting according to claim 1, wherein said cartridgelike replaceable unit comprises a first and a second tubular part of equal external diameters joined by an intermediate part which is of lesser external diameter and is formed with said suction orifices in its wall, said first tubular part accommodating said air extractor and said motor and communicating with the interior of said intermediate part through a nozzle-shaped bore, and said second tubular part accommodating said switch element for controlling said motor.
 3. A toilet fitting according to claim 1, wherein said cartridgelike replaceable unit is supported in said hollow extension in a resilient, noise-inhibiting mounting.
 4. A toilet fitting according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of said cartridgelike replaceable unit is provided with a noise-inhibiting covering.
 5. A toilet fitting according to claim 1, wherein at said hollow extension the upper surface of said fitting is shaped, in a vertical plane along the longitudinal axis of said seat, to form a part of substantially circular cross section. 